2004 Reading Project

In the fall of 2004, Stephon Ferguson returned to Cliffdale Elementary School in Fayetteville, NC where he began his formal education some three decades ago. The news reporter for Newstalk Radio WFNC 640AM (also known as Steve Blackmon) was there to read to the school's seven kindergarten classes. It was the beginning of a challenge Ferguson took to read to every kindergarten student in Cumberland County, 4300. His goal was to raise awareness about the importance of literacy. He used his position as a news reporter to help heighten awareness and associated his duties to the importance of reading as being the foundation of all education.

By early spring 2005 Ferguson had visited 230 individual classrooms at 52 elementary schools. The city of Fayetteville, Cumberalnd County and local municipalities proclaimed April 7, 2005, "Read to a Child Day" in recognition of Ferguson's efforts and challenged citizens to engage in programs and activites that promote the development of our youth.

With intentions to do it for one year, Ferguson went on to read to every Kindergarten student in the county for four consecutive years, raising the bar on the importance of literacy. In 2005 Ferguson founded Leaders for Literacy, Inc. The initiative is designed to get local leaders more involved in literacy efforts with our youth. It's a comprehensive three-fold program. It gives the child a one on one experience with a local leader who encourages them that in order to be a leader you must be a reader. It also teaches the child the duties and responsibilities of public officials and community leaders; all while leaving the child with a wonderful reading experience. To request by-laws or other information or to support this program Please remit all correspondence to:

Leaders for Literacy, Inc.P.O. Box 26295Fayetteville, NC 28314

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